Atc 4 Me

[2Go-Fast]

I've been good, still my own worst enemy, (as anyone who has ever known me will probably tell you....lol). I still talk about that trip every now and then....standing in the middle of a frozen lake, holding a radar gun as some guy on a snowmobile goes buy about 4 feet away at 130mph!...After the first time, it dawned on me (a)....I AM STANDING ON A FROZEN LAKE!!!!......and (b)....THAT GUY JUST WENT BY ME AT 130mph.....FOUR FEET AWAY!!!.....lol

After the fire, all of our old AATVA movies, the old mags and all of our pictures were lost, so I have been trying to find any copies of that old material that I can find. One of my boys even had their birth announced in the back of one of those old rags........."those were the days".....lol

[85KM]

I have a bunch of the VHS movies that Dad would buy at the races. I even have the PRO stuff on Saturday night. I have to get them put on DVD soon. I think if I put them in the VCR it will eat them.

That guy that was flying by you on the lake was my brother when he was like 12 or 13 years old. Remember when he put the track studs through the heat exchanger and puked all the anti-freeze out going 130MPH?

[2Go-Fast]

Let me know if you do get those transposed to DVD as I have a place that we can upload them. I have a website hosted that I secured several years ago in case we decided to go straight to the public with any items.....we went to a Dealer network instead, so http://www.2go-fast.com is just sitting there unused......a perfect place to upload some big video files for people to view if needed.

The is only so many times I can watch the 3 or 4 races on youtube races.......

[tundrawillie]

I bought every magazine from 1980 on. 3wheelin, dirtwheels, 3wheelaction, 3&4wheelaction, etc. My mom said, "Don't waste your money." I kept them in mint condition, no dog-eared pages...nothing. Sold most of them on ebay several years ago. $60.00 to $75.00 each. Bought a mint condition '85 250R with the money. Needless to say, my mom realized I made a wise investment in those magazines.

[zeek]

Really Nice OLD photos!
Thanx for posting them!

CHEERS
Kris

[3WW Star-CoeShow]

Hello everyone. I hope you're all well! I've been pretty busy with life and working my life away like crazy. My daughter says I'm going to be a "Grandpa' in February 2011. I still feel very well and could swing a leg over my ATC250R and go into battle with Jimmy, Marty, Dean, Donny and all of the former Pro's I used to battle with! At least for one lap! If any one has any questions, please ask away. I will try to check back more often.

Mike

[Eric250R]

Nice to see you still check in from time to time. Glad to hear all is well, but most of all, congrats on getting ready to be a grandpa!!!!

[Billy Golightly]

Mike, I was in San Diego in January for a group ride out at Gordon's Well. And as we were coming back to the airport we passed by Solar Turbine, and I remember saying to a few guys that was where you worked at! That was my first trip to San Diego and I liked it a lot. If you want to swing a leg over a bike, come on out to the Imperial Invasion ride. Its going to be in march though which might be bad timing for the Grand baby Check it out though and see if it might work into your schedule! http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ost#post926525

[Bryan Raffa]

one of my boys even had their birth announced in the back of one of those old rags........."those were the days".....lol

Nice,, I like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for shareing with us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Billy Golightly]

Mike, I re-posted a few of your posts into articles on the front page under our Vintage Race accounts section.

This post: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...900#post275900

And also this one: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...834#post274834

I'm trying to organize things better and make it where users can find posts like yours (and other accounts like Mike Hallet's desert racing stories, some of the ones Dean Kirsten has told, etc) a little easier than wading through page after page after page. I didn't think you would have a problem with it, since you hadn't edited the posts here any on the board and in this thread or deleted them. If you do, tell me and I'll take them out.

[3WW Star-CoeShow]

Billy,

No problem. I did go in and edit some of the stuff, mainly for typo's I found while re-reading them. I plan to look in more frequently so that members can ask questions that I can hopefully answer to aid in informing them about "Back in the Day" or perfomance questions they may have, or past racing experiences. I am looking to find an 85 or 86 ATC250R. I now have the room to restore one and set it up like one of my old racers. Just to inform anyone intertested, If anyone has a used ATC250R that seems a bit "different" because the seat bolts on instead of having the quick release as they all came with, that is because it is possibly one of our former Factory ATC250's with the optimized ATC500 copied frame geometry.

I am pretty sure mine and Marty's custom framed race bikes were sold to interested American Honda employees when the ATV race team was disbanded after the 1986 season. They have likely traded hands numerous times over the years. Anyways, if you own or know someone that has an ATC250R that has what seems like a custom forward mounted "bolt-on" seat, it's a sure sign it is a former ex Honda ATC Racing ATC250R. The seat appears to sit well forward of the original mounting location, only because it does. The fuel tank and radiators have been moved forward the same amount to keep the ergonomics correct. This mod made the trike much less wheelie prone and improved front wheel traction during cornering. This mod also allowed us to have more traction control in varying terrain. The ATC500 frame geometry was a clear improvement in the overall handling of these 3 wheelers. Keep your eyes open. If any one has one of these trikes or knows someone who does, it is clearly one in a million!

Mike

[Jez]

Hi Mike,

Great to see you back on the site. Is this one of the bikes with the 500 geometry you mention? I don't remember where I found the photo, but it looks to have bolted, forward mounted fenders........along with a whole host of other mods.

Cheers,
Jez

[3WW Star-CoeShow]

Jez,

That photo appears to be one of Marty's 1986 racers. You really can't see much of the changes in the photo because they are kind of suttle, but in person you can see the differences.

Mike

[sweetip2000]

Can I get your autograph ? Anyone who can handle 3 wheels the way you did is a skilled rider.
If I remember correctly 1986 was the beginning of a really bad slump in the economy. Similar to what is going on now. I was too stoned back then to remember most things but if you can tell us where we can watch some original ATC videos form the 1980's please let us know. Its a real treat to watch, Welcome to the web site. The guy who owns it Billy put a lot of time money and effort into keeping it alive. I am looking for a 1985 200X. I will be installing a 200S motor in it, If you hear of anything in NY let me know. Thanks. btw keep them kids riding on 3.

[3WW Star-CoeShow]

I'm not aware of many 3 wheeler videos that were made in the 80's. I do have a very professional one that I plan to send a copy to over at Airfoolers.com The video has a full range of 3 wheel and odyssey content, along with the 250cc National Off Road Chapionship main event held in 1983 that I won. At that time, 3 wheel racing was VERY fun, but the politics had begun to creep in!